Learning and instruction - Youthful cops-in-training present difficulties
In Thuringia, young individuals often take on the role of police officers. Jürgen Loyen, head of the Thuringian Police Academy, has mentioned that this year around ten youths under the age of eighteen have already received job offers. Loyen believes that the level of maturity is more significant than their age, as there can be sixteen or seventeen-year-olds who are more grown up mentally than some nineteen or twenty-year-olds who are legally adults.
The Thuringian Police does not have a set minimum age for joining the police force as a cadet. However, a certificate of completion of middle school education is a requirement. The performance of these young applicants is often satisfactory, Loyen added. A third of the minors who apply to become police cadets pass the required tests, and job offers are distributed based on their scores. Age is not a consideration during this process.
Training younger police officers in distressing scenarios
The idea of minors being trained as police officers in Thuringia can lead to unusual circumstances. For instance, they cannot buy computer games rated FSK 18 for people over 18. But it's possible that they encounter corpses or experience other dramatic situations during their internships at police stations. Efforts are made to shield young people from these experiences, says Loyen. "But you can't entirely eliminate the possibility that something like this might happen." If there are stressful situations, such as serious car accidents, it's crucial to offer aftercare for the young recruits. Yet, this shouldn't just be limited to minors. Over the past few decades, the police have made significant strides in this area, Loyen claims.
Tackling the Youth Protection Act in police training for minors
Complying with the Youth Protection Act in training young minors in the police force can be a challenge, Loyen admits. The law restricts their working hours to weekdays between 6 am and 6 pm. Therefore, the young police officers are typically employed only during these hours. As part of their police station duties, they have to carry a firearm - even though they cannot handle or shoot weapons at clubs as minors.
The upcoming restructuring of the Thuringian Police Academy in Meiningen into a proper campus is designed to cater better to the needs of cadets below 18. Loyen explains that the relationship between younger and older police cadets should be strengthened and maintain a diverse blend of ages. To achieve this, social workers will be placed on campus to attend to the needs of the young recruits beyond their training and work hours.
Building a campus for police training
About 10,000 square meters of space is being planned for new accommodation, teaching buildings and a shooting range in the Police Academy, as proposed by an architectural firm. Whether these plans will be realized is still up in the air.
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In Thuringia, young individuals from Erfurt and other areas often pursue a career in law enforcement, starting as police cadets. Despite their age, some 16 or 17-year-olds can display higher levels of maturity than their 19 or 20-year-old peers in the Thuringian Police Force. As part of the restructuring of the Police Academy in Meiningen, efforts will be made to strengthen the relationship between younger and older police cadets, ensuring a diverse blend of ages and providing additional support through social workers on campus.
